How Expensive Can Online Food Ordering Apps For Restaurants Be?

Technology has opened gates to new opportunities for businesses over the past few years. Especially businesses operating in the food industry are the well-flourishing ones today. And the paid apps or free online ordering systems for restaurants are the keys to success for these businesses.

But in this article, we will exclusively talk about private applications. How much does it cost to the restaurant to get a mobile app built from scratch? And other cost metrics will be discussed below.

In recent years, mobile applications have occupied the restaurant industry. Simultaneously, the user base of restaurant apps has jumped up significantly, giving more confidence to developers to ask for a high price from clients.

No denying! Mobile app technology can assist restaurant owners in solidifying their business foundation. But can the expense of these apps keep you profitable? What is the best alternative? Read on to find out. 

How Much is a Mobile Application for Restaurants?

One of the most prominent challenges ever faced by businesses that aren't using the best online ordering system for restaurants is the staggeringly high cost associated with application development.

The cost may have a limit on the lowest side, but it can extend beyond your expectation on the highest side because there's no upper limit.

Simply tell, a simple mobile application can readily come at $2000-$8000, in which you will be accessing just basic features with no advanced or interactive tools.

The project's duration can also impact the total amount an application will take. A study by SPD load reveals that in the US, simple app development can have an estimated cost of $40,000-$60,000 if the project is expected to take 2-3 months to complete.

And if we exclusively talk about the Restaurant Application, the overall cost can start from $40,000 and may rise to $150,000.

Similarly, if we analyze the per-hour rates of an application developer, then they are also astonishingly high. On average, in the United States, an application developer charges $120-$150 per hour. However, some folks from European countries also charge $100 per hour, but that's still expensive. 

Further Challenges with Mobile Application

Challenges aren't just limited to sky-high pricing of application development; there's much more ahead. Such as-

·         The complexity of the programming language (Swift, Java, PHP, Kotlin, JavaScript, Golang) used for the application development can delay the project.

·         Additional add-ons in mobile applications come with additional charges

·         If you are working with a freelance developer, there is no guarantee of work accountability

·         Applications aren't a one-time investment. These apps need frequent inspections and maintenance.

·         The more expensive an application is, the more expensive maintenance can be

·         Features like authorization, GPS location, user profile, push notifications, matching functionality, communication, and 3rd party integration are the base of Restaurant apps, and there's no way to escape additional charges attached to them.

Fortunately, if millions download your restaurant app, stay alert because you could be unfortunate if you can't spend the required amount on maintenance or can't hire professionals.

According to some application developers, an app can readily take about 15% to 20% of the original application development cost when it comes to maintenance.

Conclusion

However, getting a restaurant application isn't a worse decision. But if you run a small restaurant with a limited budget and ambition for a professional-looking mobile app, then a free online ordering system for restaurants could be a nice catch. These systems cater to the dynamic requirements of restaurants that dream of having the desired application. And the best thing is, they provide you access to personalized branding too.